This post was actually written in August 2019, but I felt it was important in my journey to post it here. Hope you can take something from it as you make your own way in life.

I’ve called in sick at work even though we’re busy as heck because I really need to get over this cold so I can face my deadlines with a clear head (and nose, and chest).

In my head since early morning is the thought that my supervisor (who’s a kind, good person) doesn’t want me there. He’d prefer to have someone else in my place, someone who wouldn’t question his ideas and who isn’t adamant about editorial integrity and authenticity, and what’s best for our audience. Yeah, good or bad, I’ve been feeling pretty righteous, possibly to my own detriment.

Though I’ve been at my company for nearly 30 years, I think I’ve been there too long.

Anyway, throughout the morning I’ve been getting signs. Well, at least I think they’re signs.

1) Know how facebook shows you images you’ve posted in the past? I saw one from New Zealand of the caves I visited that was taken six years ago. Has it already been that long since I went on that amazing solo adventure when I experienced the most wonderful epiphany? See #4.

2) Got my daily email from Lori Allen of Great Escape Publishing about climbing hills, that you can’t go from dreaming of becoming a travel writer to automatically becoming one. It takes many steps to the top of that summit and along the way is where you find your successes, not just at the top. The top marks the end of one journey and a new beginning. Note: I’ve been getting a lot of emails over the years and most times don’t have time (of don’t make time) to read them. Read this one though.

3) This then led to an email from Daphne Gray-Grant of Power Writing (writing coach) who shared a study that found that pursuing happiness rarely leads to it; that, in fact, it decreases it. It then led back to the main topic of rather than making a goal of writing 2-3 hours a day, just make it habit of writing for 15 minutes daily. Yes, yes, I’m aware of it, whether you have something profound to share or contribute to your project, it’s important to just write. Got it. This is when I thought of this blog since back in February—has it really been that long???—I said then that I would restart the blog, writing something every day. LOL.

4) Then I thought of that utterly perfect moment in New Zealand, sitting in my hotel bed surrounded by Tongariro National Park. The setting sun cast an orange-ish light through the picture windows illuminating the room as I was working on this site. I remember the feelings of intense freedom and joy that sparked inside me, and feeling just how RIGHT this was. That was my moment of epiphany. After returning home, I got back in to the 9-to-5, and here I am six years later dreaming that same dream of traveling and making a living from travel writing and photography. Oy vey.

So, I’m sick in bed thinking about my boss knowing I should take action to move forward or it’ll be another six years in the same place. Which is actually pretty funny since way back when I started with this company, I swore I would leave before five years were up. That was my thing back then since I’d been employed at three previous companies and left before the five-year mark.

I’ll leave you with a sobering thought to get you moving as it whoops me in the butt:

“The most regretful people on earth are those who felt the call to creative work, who felt their own creative power restive and uprising, and gave to it neither power nor time.” —Mary Oliver